Letters, Aug. 1, 1960

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Off & Running Sir: My spirits cringe at the possibility that, with bad luck, the next President of the U.S. will consult the "Kennedy clan" and the "family war councils" instead of his Cabinet. "Tribal law" will dictate policies on foreign affairs, national government, taxes, farm prices, et cetera, et cetera, ad infinitum!

CAROL R. WHITE DeKalb, Ill.

Sir: Dedication to the common good, courage in the service of country, disciplined minds, ability to face crisis, strength of purpose—what more can be asked of any American family ?

DAN & ROSE LUCEY Canoga Park, Calif.

Sir: My warmest congratulations on your fine Kennedy article and the truly classic cover. As a Canadian wellwisher, I hope you will not mind my saying that if you don't put him in, you may have "had it"—and that means us, too.

G. L. CLARKE Winnipeg, Man.

Sir: I, for one, would hesitate to vote for Senator Kennedy, who has already shown neglect of his senatorial duties for some six months.

PATRICIA A. AVERY Toledo, Ohio

Sir: A fine cover story of July 11 on the Kennedys! I saw the Kennedy family, So here's my fervent prayer: Please let them keep their money, But, Lord, remove their hair.

FRED HAYES Clinton, Ind.

Sir: Your Kennedy cover prompts me to ask if he were elected, would he be the only elected President with a living father? Mr. Coolidge's father was living when he became President, but by succession, not election.

HARRISON DALE Santa Barbara, Calif.

¶ Other White House fathers: John Adams, Nathaniel Fillmore, Jesse Root Grant, George Tryon Harding.—ED.

Sir: As an independent voter, I had yet to understand what Senator Kennedy's qualifications are for President. But I find there is one qualification, and it also solves the problem of the Vice Presidency. We wouldn't need one. If anything happened to Jack, Brother Bobby would fill in, and if Bobby died, Teddy would take over for him. Ah—but what if Teddy went too? Well then, we could fall back on that granddaddy of all shrewd operators, Joe Sr.

MRS. L. SIMON Van Nuys, Calif.

Sir: It is far better to have a Joseph Kennedy whispering into the ear of the President of the United States than a Sherman Adams.

E. RHODA GREENBERG Los Angeles

Sir: If it makes no difference whether your President will be a Catholic or a Protestant, religion in America is something empty, formal and superfluous. I think religion doesn't take an end at the door of the church; on the contrary, it should inspire, guide and fortify men in their life of all day. Kennedy is not to be chosen merely because of his faith; nevertheless, it is a fact which must be taken into account.

RUDI KESSELS Leuven, Belgium

Sir: Every indication points to Roman Catholic political rigging . . . Di Salle, Butler, Brown and others involved in what is undoubtedly the dirtiest politics in our country's history.

CARSON BOYLE Dayton, Ohio

Sir: While my father and I were traveling through south Texas, we saw this sign near Karnes City in Karnes County [see cut).

JERRY SMITH Seymour, Texas